Grief & Loss
Grief is a natural response to loss. It can be felt in many ways. Grief’s impact can be emotional, social, spiritual, physical and financial. It is as individual as the person you loved and lost. Grieving while living away from family and friends can be especially difficult. This is a place where you can share your thoughts, and get ideas on how to cope. It is here for you to get support and validation.

Distance Caregiving
Distance caregiving is the experience of providing support to an ill loved one who is geographically distant from the caregiver. Research shows that there were more than seven million Americans who were distance caregivers in 1997. That number is growing. This discussion group offers you a means of finding emotional support, validation and coping strategies.

Anticipatory Grief
Many of us are aware that grief is a normal part of every loss we experience, but does grief only occur after the loss? Anticipatory grief is the form of grief that occurs when one is confronted with a chronic or life threatening illness or when one anticipates the death of a loved one (or oneself). Anticipatory grief does not substitute, or necessarily lessen, grief that occurs after the death. It is not simply grief pushed ahead in time. Please utilize this discussion group to share your thoughts and feelings.

Children and Adolescent Grief
Children and adolescents grieve in their own way according to their unique developmental timeline. It can be challenging for parents and adults to understand their children’s grief reactions and how to best support them. This discussion group will feature topics that relate to supporting children and teens in managing the big feelings of grief.

Pregnancy Loss
Pregnancy loss generally includes miscarriage, stillbirth, and neo-natal (death occurring in the first 28 days of life) death. Society is starting to understand the impact of grief on an individual, but, when it comes to pregnancy loss, if the loss is even acknowledged, it is often minimized. Pregnancy loss is a real loss! Those who have experienced a pregnancy loss experience the same symptoms and intensity of grief as any other type of loss. In addition, there are some unique grief issues that accompany pregnancy loss which are not present with other types of deaths. Concerns range from subsequent pregnancies to relationship issues. These and many other issues can complicate one’s grief journey. If you or someone you care about has experienced a pregnancy loss, use this discussion group to express your feelings, find support, and learn more about this subject.

LGBTQ and Grief
Grieving the loss of a loved one is difficult enough, but when the relationship is non-traditional it can become even more complicated. When the LGBTQ person cannot openly mourn the death of a loved one or when society at large disenfranchises this grief, heartache is turned inward and the healing process suffers. Sadly, sometimes folks disenfranchise their own grief. Secrecy, shame and guilt are a few of the grief reactions commonly expressed in the LGBTQ community. Turning grief inward can result in isolation, use of unhealthy coping strategies and feelings of depression. Members of the LGBTQ community who have experienced the death of a loved one, especially of their significant other, may not have the support from family and friends that heterosexuals come to expect when a loved one dies. Family and friends may not understand the relationship or may be angry at their loved one and partner. Some family and friends may not have known about these relationships as they could have been kept hidden for years. This all complicates the mourning process and impacts mourning rituals. Please use this group to share your stories.

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Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Hospice of the Western Reserve provides hospice services, palliative care and bereavement support to patients and families throughout Northeast Ohio including Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Summit counties.